Bristol inquiry clears social workers of malpractice

Three social workers from Bristol accused of mishandled the care
of a man with mental health problems have been cleared by an
internal council inquiry, writes Haroon
Ashraf.

Director of social services and health Bill McKitterick, said,
“It is clear that Bristol Social Services did not serve Mr
Watson well and the service failed him and his family.

“However, the staff named… were not personally to blame
have received a full apology. The three staff are fully supported
by the City Council and myself in this very difficult and complex
area of service”.

The social workers and a consultant psychiatrist were accused of
failing in their duty to 64-year-old Selburn Watson in a report
published in March 2003 by Bristol Council’s Department of
Social Services and Health.

The report said one of them misled a magistrate by giving false
information and that all three were guilty of malpractice.

The report found that Watson had been unfairly treated and had his
human rights disregarded over several months in 2001, while social
services tried to get him admitted to a secure hospital.